Adjustable anchor bolt &amp; block building and leveling means

ABSTRACT

Anchor bolt means for a building whereby all vertical or horizontal structural components such as columns and floor slabs, either reinforced concrete or steel, are securely anchored and leveled by means of simple bolt adjustments. Steel anchor plates, including outwardly projecting anchor bolts, are embedded in concrete footings, floor slabs, beams or columns and when any two or more of the above components are joined, adjustment nut means are provided to perfectly align and level all of the main structural components relative to each other. Additionally, all of said components are continuously tied together by steel reinforcing members.

ilnited States Patent 11 1 3,785,097

Seymour Jan. 15, 1974 I ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR BOLT & BLOCK FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS BUILDING AND LEVELING MEANS 1,199,373 7/1970 GreatBritain 52/126 [76] Inventor: William B. Seymour, 110 NE. 384,183 1 1965Switzerland 52/584 160th St Miami, Fla. 33162 6,804,796 lO/l969Netherlands 52/126 [22] Flled: 1972 Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott [21]Appl. No.: 304,101 AttorneyMeyer A. Baskin 521 US. Cl 52/126, 52/127,52/227, 1 1 ABSTRACT 8 Anchor bolt means for a building whereby allvertical [51] Int. Cl. EMg 21/10 or horizontal structural componentssuch as columrrs Field Of Search and floor slabs, either reinforcedconcrete or steel, are

3, 248/23, 188.4 securely anchored and leveled by means of simple boltadjustments. Steel anchor plates, including outwardly 1 References Ciprojecting anchor bolts, are embedded in concrete UNITED STATES PATENTSfootings, floor slabs, beams or columns and when any 3,669,393 6/1972Paine et a1. .1 248/l88.4 two or more of the above components are joined3,195,266 7/1965 onanianm; 52/127 x justmem 1w! means are Provided toPerfectly align and 2,420,427 5/1947 Henderson 52/587 level l f t a nstructural components relative to 1,394,631 10/1921 Luschka 248/23 eachother. Additionally, all of said components are 2,697,571 12/1954Rosenzweig 248/23 X continuously tied together by steel reinforcing mem-2,940,784 6/1960 Fell 248/23 X hem 3,621,626 11/1971 Tylius 52/2273,369,334 2/1968 Berg 52/227 14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PNEWEU JAN 5mm SHZET 1 BF o O I s n 0 I ADJUSTABLE ANCHOR BOLT & BLOCK BUILDING ANDLEVELING MEANS STATE OF THE PRIOR ART U.S. Pat. No. 3,316,680 to JeromeA. Chrastek discloses a floor structure fabricated from a plurality ofpanels in elevated spaced relation to a suitable supporting surface.This patent discloses a leveling means for the elevated floor, but notie-ins or connections are provided to the main structural components ofthe building. In fact, the elevated floor is in the form of an additionand forms no basic part of the building structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,157 to George S. Pinter discloses a concretestructure and process of making same. The principal object of thisinvention is to support a slab or other elongated member ina generallyhorizontal position by spaced apart stays above a metallic base. Meansare provided to level the slab prior to consolidating its connection tothe base by welding or some other bonding operation. This structure issimply a means to level concrete floors and provides no overall tie-inwith the main structural components of a building.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,692 to F. Gunnison discloses an adjustable buildingfoundation for use with prefabricated or portable buildings. This deviceutilizes a plurality of enlarged flanged nuts buried in holes about theperimeter of the building. An upstanding rod with a screw-threaded lowerend is adjustable relative to each buried nut, and the wooden floor ofthe building is fixed as by nails, bolts or the like to a flanged topend of each rod.

U .S. Pat. No. 3,066,448 to G. S. Pinter discloses a device very similarto the other Pinter U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,157.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,001 to W. R. Morgan, Jr. discloses a resilientleveling means for floors wherein a plurality of vertically adjustableleveling bolts bear on a concrete slab, and generally U-shaped springscarried on said bolts resiliently carry the floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention pertains to anadjustable anchor bolt and leveling means whereby all of the mainstructural components, such as columns, floor slabs, etc., are securelytied together by steel reinforcing members and are adjustable to leveland/or align all of the components.

The device of the present invention provides means to securely anchorand level columns relative to a foundation or concrete slab in onesimple operation, as well as to level and tie thereto by steel otherconcrete floor slabs, beams, columns, etc., in a manner whereby abuilding can be constructed perfectly level with steel reinforcingmembers continuously tying all of the components together.

One basic form of the invention utilizes anchor bolts cast into aconcrete foundation or floor slab with means, pre-cast in a column, forsecure, adjustable attachment to said anchor bolts. Steel reinforcingmeans extend through the column for engagement with a similar anchorbolt and leveling means at the top thereof for attachment to a floorslab. This basic form of the invention is equally applicable in tyingother vertical, horizontal or angulated structural components together.

A more sophisticated form of the invention provides anchor bolt blockswherein all six sides are identical and usable to anchor, level andalign all of the main structural components of a building relative toeach other, regardless of the angular relation therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical cross sectionalview of a pre-cast column, installed and leveled, in a supportingrelation between a foundation and upper, leveled floor slab inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective ofa six-sided block utilized in securelyattaching and leveling various building structure components inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view through a portion of abuilding structure, illustrating several applications of the block ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a plurality of the blocks ofFIG. 3 are connected to form a geodesic dome type of structure; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a connected, angularrelationship of two of the blocks of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to the drawingsinwhich like reference numerals designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views and with particular reference to FIG. 1, aprecast column 10 is illustrated in a leveled, supporting relationbetween a foundation or. concrete slab 12 and a leveled floor slab 14thereatop.

A horizontal steel plate 16 which may be perforated, is pre-cast in thefoundation or slab l2 and includes a pair of upstanding threaded anchorbolts 18 and 20, welded thereto at 22 adjacent its opposed ends. Ahorizontal steel plate 24 is likewise pre-cast in the base portion ofthe column and has fixed thereto or formed integral therewidth a pair ofvertically disposed tubes 26 and 28 adjacent to the respective ends ofplate 24 in a generally equally spaced, axial relation to the anchorbolts 18 and 20.

Each of the anchor bolts 18 and 20 is threaded at its upper end toengage an internally threaded sleeve 30 or 32 axially disposed throughthe respective tubes 26 and 28. The threaded sleeve nuts 30 and 32provide enlarged disc like lower ends 34 and 36 normally disposed inrecesses 38 and 40 formed in the bottom of the base 42 of the column 10.Washers 44 and 46 may be disposed between the discs 34 and 36 and thelower ends of the tubes 26 and 28 and recesses 38 and 40. The upper ends48 and 50 of the internally threaded sleeves 30 and 32 project outwardlyof top surfaces 50 and 52 formed by notches 54 and 56 in the column base42 and are externally screw threaded as at 58 and 60 to receiverespective pairs of nuts 62, 64 and 66, 68.

In use, the sleeve nuts 30 and 32 are threaded onto the anchor bolts 18and 20 until the disc ends 34 and 36 are seated against the top surfaceof the foundation or footing 12. The pre-cast column 10 is then seatedthereon with the sleeve nuts 30 and 32 being axially disposed throughthe tubes 26 and 28, and the pairs of nuts 62, 64 and 66, 68 arethreaded onto the external threads 58 and 60 of the respective sleevenuts 30 and 32.

To raise the left side of the column 10, the nuts 62 and 64 aretightened together as illustrated in FIG. 1

and the lower nut 64 is turned counterclockwisely, threading the sleevenut 30 upwardly on the anchor bolt 22 resulting in the disc 34 raisingsaid left side. Similar manipulation of the nuts 66 and 68 raises theright side of the column 10. After either side is raised, the respectivepairs of nuts 62, 64 or 66, 68 are individually tightened against thecolumn 10.

When it becomes necessary to lower either side of the column 10, theleft side for example, the nuts 62 and 64 are tightened together asshown and the top nut 64 is then turned clockwisely, threading thesleeve nut downwardly on the anchor bolt 22.

The steel plate 24 in the base 42 of the column is tied to a similarplate 24' pre-cast in the column upper end 70 by a pair of steel rods 72and 74 in any conventional manner. As illustrated in FIG. 1, theleveling means as above described is duplicated in the upper portion ofFIG. 1 to level the pre-cast slab 14 thereatop and will be describedonly insofar as necessary. Respective pairs of nuts 62', 64 and 66 and68 are manipulated on the sleeve nuts 30' and 32' to cause the discs 34'and 36 t to selectively raise or lower either side portion of the slab14 to level same.

The above description applies to one side of column as illustrated inFIG. 1; however, it is preferable to duplicate the top and bottomleveling means and tie rods 72 and 74 on the back side of the column 10(not shown) to provide a four-point leveling for both the column 10 andthe slab 14.

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective a hollow anchor bolt block or module80, preferably constructed of steel and presenting six identical sides82 through 92. Each side provides an enlarged central opening 94 topermit entry of the hands therethrough during installation, four wrenchslots 96, 98, 100 and 102 about the periphery thereof and four boltholes 104, 106, 108 and 110.

In use, the anchor bolt holes 104 through 110 perform the function ofthe tubes 26 and 28 and any combination of structural components, suchas columns, beams, etc., can be anchored and leveled relative to oneblock 80, utilizing any number of the six faces thereof.

The anchor bolt, leveling means functions exactly the same as describedrelative to FIG. 1; for example, the column 10 is anchored to andleveled with respect to the bottom corner block 80 (FIG. 3) by anchorbolts 18" and welded to and extending outwardly from the plate 24", castinto the bottom of column 10". The sleeve nuts 30" and 32" areinternally, threadably engaged with the screw threaded ends of theanchor bolts 18" and 20" and extend through respective holes 106 and 108with their enlarged disc top ends 34" and 36", normally engaged againstthe outside surface of the side 86. When the respective pairs of nuts62", 64" and 66", 68" are manipulated in the manner described relativeto FIG. 1, the anchor bolts 18" and 20" are selectively threaded intothe sleeve nuts 30 and 32" to lower the column 10", or out of saidsleeve nuts to raise said column 10''.

It should be understood that four anchor bolts and adjustable sleevenuts are employed for each connection, and with proper selectiveadjustment thereof, the column 10" can readily be perfectly aligned orleveled.

The various other connections to the column 10'', beam 116 and slab 14",are adjustable in the manner above described and need no furtherexplanation. However, it should be pointed out that two of the modulesor blocks can be interconnected as indicated generally at 120 and 122.In this event, anchor bolts such as 18" and 20" are each threadablyengaged between two sleeve nut assemblies 124 and 126, engagedrespectively with the two blocks 80. One of the sleeve nut assemblies,such as 126, is set by the pair of nuts thereon, while the other 124 isadjustable for leveling purposes by the nuts 66" and 68".

Steel rods 72 and 74" interconnect between all of the modules or blocks80, resulting in a continuous steel tie between all of the mainstructural components of the building. From two to six columns, beams,slabs, etc., in various combination can be securely interconnected andleveled by a single block 80.

After the pre-cast columns, beams, slabs, and/or footings are tiedtogether with the anchor bolt block, the remaining holes in the exposedsides of the blocks would be used to hold permanent or temporary formsfor pouring necessary concrete or may be simply used to secure panels ofconcrete, wood, plastic or fiberglass.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the manner in which a plurality of the anchorbolt blocks of FIG. 2 can be angularly attached to form a geodesic orsimilar type of dome structure. The various blocks are attached togetherin an angular, horizontal and vertical relationship as best illustratedin FIG. 5.

For this purpose, the opposed end portions of threaded anchor bolts and132 are engaged in respective pairs of sleeve nuts 124 and 126 engagedthrough respective pairs of holes such as 104 and 106 of two blocks8080. Two of the sleeve nuts 126 in one block 80 may be set by the nutsthreaded on the outside thereof while the nuts 66" and 68" threaded onthe sleeve nuts 124 carried by the second block may be manipulated inthe manner previously described to individually adjust the spacingbetween the respective ends of the blocks 80-80. In this manner, theangular relationship between respective vertically and horizontallydisposed pairs of blades can be adjusted as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable anchor bolt and leveling means comprising:

A. A first anchor means secured in a first structural component of abuilding, including: 1. Screw-threaded anchor bolt means fixed to andextending outwardly therefrom;

B. Sleeve means carried by a second structural component of thebuilding, providing internal screw threads engaging said screw-threadedanchor bolt means and including:

1. External screw threads, and

2. Nut means threaded onto said external screw threads whereby selectivemanipulation thereof threads said sleeve means inwardly or outwardlyalong said anchor bolt means to adjust the position of said first andsecond structural components relative to each other.

2. The device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said anchor meanscomprises a first elongated plate, pre-cast in poured concrete and saidscrew-threaded anchor bolt means comprises first and secondscrew-threaded anchor bolts, secured asby welding adjacent therespective ends of the said first plate, and including outwardlyprojecting end portions.

3. The device, as defined in claim 2, wherein said sleeve meanscomprises a pair of elongated internally screw-threaded sleeves, eachincluding an enlarged outer head portion, normally in screw-threadedengagement on the respective anchor bolts.

4. The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said nut means comprises apair of nuts threaded onto the outer externally threaded end portion ofeach of said sleeves.

5. The device, as defined in claim 4, including a second elongatedplate, pre-cast in poured concrete of said second structural component,providing a pair of tubular end portions in axial alignment with saidfirst and second screw-threaded anchor bolts, said pair of sleevesextending through the respective tubes with said enlarged head portionsbeing positioned between said first and second structural components andsaid pairs of nuts being threaded onto said sleeves adjacent the outerend portions of said tubes.

6. The device, as defined in claim 5, including steel reinforcing rodsengaged with said second elongated plate and extending through saidsecond structural component.

7. The device, as defined in claim 1, including a hollow block havingsix identical sides, each side providing an enlarged central opening anda plurality of through holes for passage therethrough of a likeplurality of internally screw-threaded sleeves comprising said sleevemeans, said hollow block normally being interposed between said firstand second structural components.

8. The device, as defined in claim 7, including a plurality of elongatedwrench slots peripherally disposed about said central opening.

9. The device, as defined in claim 7, including a second anchor meanssecured in said second structural component, providing screw-threadedanchor bolt means fixed to and extending outwardly therefrom.

including an outer head portion seated against the outer face of one ofsaid six sides, extends inwardly respectively through one of said setsof four holes in each I of two of said six sides.

12. The device as defined in claim 11 wherein a set of four of saidinternally screw threaded sleeves extends inwardly through confrontingsides of each of two of said blocks in a respective aligned relationshipincluding an anchor bolt having the opposed end portions thereofthreaded into each pair of aligned sleeves, each of said sleeves beingexternally screw-threaded to receive a pair of nuts, comprising said nutmeans, whereby the angular relationship between the two blocks can beadjusted by proper manipulation of said pairs of nuts.

13. The device, as defined in claim 10, wherein each of said sleeves isexternally screw-threaded to receive a pair of nuts, comprising said nutmeans, inside of said block, each sleeve being in internalscrew-threaded engagement with a respective anchor bolt, wherebyselective manipulation of one of said pairs of nuts threads a respectivesleeve inwardly or outwardly along one of said anchor bolts to adjustthe position of said first and second structural components relative toeach other.

14. The device, as defined in claim 13, wherein three or more structuralcomponents are similarly anchored to and leveled by said block.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF @GRRECTION Patent No. 3,785,097 Dated January 15 1974 Inventor(s) WILLIAM D SEYMOUR It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the coversheet {76] Inventor:, "William B.

Seymour, 110 N.E. 160th St. Miami, Fla. 33162" should read William DSeymour, 1100 N.E. 160th so, Miami, Fla. 33162 Signed and sealed this6th day of August 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents- DRM \Po-ioso (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 u.s. GOVERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-334,

1. An adjustable anchor bolt and leveling means comprising: A. A firstanchor means secured in a first structural component of a building,including:
 1. Screw-threaded anchor bolt means fixed to and extendingoutwardly therefrom; B. Sleeve means carried by a second structuralcomponent of the building, providing internal screw threads engagingsaid screwthreaded anchor bolt means and including:
 1. External screwthreads, and
 2. Nut means threaded onto said external screw threadswhereby selective manipulation thereof threads said sleeve meansinwardly or outwardly along said anchor bolt means to adjust theposition of said first and second structural components relative to eachother.
 2. Nut means threaded onto said external screw threads wherebyselective manipulation thereof threads said sleeve means inwardly oroutwardly along said anchor bolt means to adjust the position of saidfirst and second structural components relative to each other.
 2. Thedevice, as defined in claim 1, wherein said anchor means comprises afirst elongated plate, pre-cast in poured concrete and saidscrew-threaded anchor bolt means comprises first and secondscrew-threaded anchor bolts, secured as by welding adjacent therespective ends of the said first plate, and including outwardlyprojecting end portions.
 3. The device, as defined in claim 2, whereinsaid sleeve means comprises a pair of elongated internallyscrew-threaded sleeves, each including an enlarged outer head portion,normally in screw-threaded engagement on the respective anchor bolts. 4.The device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said nut means comprises apair of nuts threaded onto the outer externally threaded end portion ofeach of said sleeves.
 5. The device, as defined in claim 4, including asecond elongated plate, pre-cast in poured concrete of said secondstructural component, providing a pair of tubular end portions in axialalignment with said first and second screw-threaded anchor bolts, saidpair of sleeves extending through the respective tubes with saidenlarged head portions being positioned between said first and secondstructural components and said pairs of nuts being threaded onto saidsleeves adjacent the outer end portions of said tubes.
 6. The device, asdefined in claim 5, including steel reinforcing rods engaged with saidsecond elongated plate and extending through said second structuralcomponent.
 7. The device, as defined in claim 1, including a hollowblock having six identical sides, each side providing an enlargedcentral opening and a plurality of through holes for passagetherethrough of a like plurality of internally screw-threaded sleevescomprising said slEeve means, said hollow block normally beinginterposed between said first and second structural components.
 8. Thedevice, as defined in claim 7, including a plurality of elongated wrenchslots peripherally disposed about said central opening.
 9. The device,as defined in claim 7, including a second anchor means secured in saidsecond structural component, providing screw-threaded anchor bolt meansfixed to and extending outwardly therefrom.
 10. The device, as definedin claim 9, wherein said first and second anchor means each provide aset of four screw-threaded anchor bolts, said plurality of holes in eachof said sides comprises a set of four holes, each of said sets ofscrew-threaded anchor bolts being axially alignable with any one set offour holes.
 11. The device, as defined in claim 10, wherein a set offour of said internally screw-threaded sleeves, each including an outerhead portion seated against the outer face of one of said six sides,extends inwardly respectively through one of said sets of four holes ineach of two of said six sides.
 12. The device as defined in claim 11wherein a set of four of said internally screw threaded sleeves extendsinwardly through confronting sides of each of two of said blocks in arespective aligned relationship including an anchor bolt having theopposed end portions thereof threaded into each pair of aligned sleeves,each of said sleeves being externally screw-threaded to receive a pairof nuts, comprising said nut means, whereby the angular relationshipbetween the two blocks can be adjusted by proper manipulation of saidpairs of nuts.
 13. The device, as defined in claim 10, wherein each ofsaid sleeves is externally screw-threaded to receive a pair of nuts,comprising said nut means, inside of said block, each sleeve being ininternal screw-threaded engagement with a respective anchor bolt,whereby selective manipulation of one of said pairs of nuts threads arespective sleeve inwardly or outwardly along one of said anchor boltsto adjust the position of said first and second structural componentsrelative to each other.
 14. The device, as defined in claim 13, whereinthree or more structural components are similarly anchored to andleveled by said block.